National security legislation establishes the regulatory framework for the corresponding actions.
National security is a concept that refers to the stability and peace of a country . The notion refers to the set of conditions associated with the validity of the law and the Constitution and respect for values such as justice and well-being .
Before moving forward, it is important to analyze the terms that are part of the expression. Security is the quality of that which is safe: that is, that it is protected, has defense and/or lacks danger. Security is also called the service whose purpose is to make something or someone safe. The adjective national , meanwhile, refers to what is linked to a nation (the group of people in a country who live under the same government regime).
Returning to the idea of national security, it refers to the policies, resources and actions that are carried out to take care of a territory and its inhabitants . In general, the notion refers above all to what a State does to avoid or repel external aggression .
What is national security
National security can be understood as a dimension of a government plan, a state obligation or a doctrine . The concept is related to national defense , which focuses specifically on preventing aggression from a foreign nation.
In the case of national security, it contemplates this defense , but also adds strategies and measures against terrorist attacks (such as those perpetrated in different places by groups such as ISIS and Al Qaeda ), the actions of organized crime, virtual offensives ( cyber attacks ) and even common crime. Likewise, there are those who include taking precautions against social phenomena (mass migration, protests) and natural disasters in the scope of national security.
Establishing a country 's national security policy is the responsibility of the head of state (the president, the prime minister, the king, etc.). In any case, this policy is based on a specific law that sets the limits and scope of the actions. This means, at least in theory, that a government cannot act in any way in pursuit of national security . In a rule of law , not even in times of war are violations of human rights formally endorsed, to mention one case.
During the George W. Bush administration and with the argument of protecting national security, the United States invaded Iraq in search of alleged weapons of mass destruction.
Resources and strategies
National security is based on the preservation and continuity of the functioning of a society . In this framework, the lives of all the people who live in the country are cared for and their well-being is ensured.
These objectives are very broad and require the use of multiple resources and strategies. If we focus on the intention of guaranteeing internal security against external threats, one of the pillars is international relations . Diplomacy and foreign policy seek to sign agreements to avoid, in the event of a confrontation, reaching an armed conflict.
The armed forces , meanwhile, are prepared to repress an attack coming from other countries or from groups operating abroad. The army , air force and navy have military technology and weapons that allow them to guarantee border security and control air and maritime space , protecting the integrity of the national territory and citizens.
It cannot be omitted to mention that national security is also built with military alliances and treaties with other nations . In the face of an attack, UN or NATO mechanisms can be activated, for example, so that other States assume a role in defending the attacked party.
To discover and contain threats to national security, there are also intelligence services and special forces that play a vital role. Even espionage can be key in this sense.
The protection of national security may include the development of covert operations.
National security in the face of internal threats
As we already indicated above, national security not only looks outward, but also intervenes within the borders. In a broad sense, it is understood that a mafia group, a drug trafficking gang or even thieves without an organization behind them can attack control of the territory .
In this framework, national security maintains a close bond with the so-called citizen security , which considers the work of the police , institutions and civil society to achieve harmonious coexistence.
At this point we must refer again to the legal issue. In general, not all security forces are authorized to intervene in internal conflicts. This means that the army is not empowered to fight crime or guard the streets.
We can review what happened in Argentina during the last military dictatorship ( 1976 – 1983 ). The de facto government, formed when the armed forces broke the constitutional order and took power, carried out bloody illegal repression under the argument of protecting national security in the face of the actions of the guerrilla. The military did not respect the laws, but instead established state terrorism (with shootings, torture, kidnappings - even of newborn children -, clandestine detention centers and disappearances of people) with the excuse of strengthening internal security.